Delhi air turns very poor: DU colleges go online from today as AQI hits 304
By TUF News Desk · Published 10 November 2026 · 4 min read
Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy
Students at several Delhi University colleges woke up to a different Tuesday. Instead of travelling through thick smog to campus, they logged in from home. Their colleges had moved classes online from November 10 as Delhi’s air quality slipped further after Diwali.
Sri Venkateswara College will hold classes online from November 10 to November 14. Practical sessions are the exception. Departments running practicals will continue to take them on campus or in hybrid mode, and teachers have been asked to keep a record of the online links used and the attendance in each class.
Which colleges have moved online
The shift is not limited to one college. Delhi College of Arts and Commerce, Janki Devi Memorial College, Shaheed Bhagat Singh College, Bhagini Nivedita College, Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar College and the Institute of Home Economics have all moved classes online for November 10. Some of them started earlier. Shaheed Bhagat Singh College held online classes on November 6 and 7 as well, and Bhagini Nivedita College did the same on November 7.
A few things have not moved online. Delhi College of Arts and Commerce has said pre-scheduled class tests will still be held offline on November 7 and 10, so students with a test on the timetable have to turn up in person. The college stayed shut on November 9, as did Janki Devi Memorial College and the Institute of Home Economics.
How bad the air is
The trigger is the air itself. Delhi recorded a city-level air quality index of 304 at 8 am on Tuesday, which the Central Pollution Control Board classes as very poor. Readings between 301 and 400 fall in that band. The reading at Pusa was 392, Chandni Chowk recorded 389, and Delhi University’s North Campus recorded 368. The Indian Institute of Technology Delhi recorded 366.
PM2.5 remained the main pollutant, two days after Diwali pushed pollution sharply higher. Concentrations of PM2.5 in Akshardham reached 760.99 micrograms per cubic metre at 11 pm on Sunday night, according to Delhi Pollution Control Committee data.
The colleges are acting on directions issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management and the Delhi government under the Graded Response Action Plan, the set of emergency measures that kicks in when air quality crosses set thresholds. Schools in the capital had already been told to run classes up to Class 5 in hybrid mode.
Delhi University has taken the same step in past winters. In November 2024, the university moved classes online until November 23 as air quality worsened, with in-person classes resuming on November 25.
What students should do now
For students, the practical step is to check their own college notice board or website rather than assume the whole university has gone online. The arrangement so far is college by college, and the dates differ from one college to the next. College notices are posted on the Delhi University website. Students still comparing universities can read our guide to choosing a university in India and the University of Delhi profile.
Frequently asked questions
Which Delhi University colleges are holding online classes on November 10?
Sri Venkateswara College, Delhi College of Arts and Commerce, Janki Devi Memorial College, Shaheed Bhagat Singh College, Bhagini Nivedita College, Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar College and the Institute of Home Economics have all moved classes online for November 10.
How long will Sri Venkateswara College stay online?
Its notice says regular classes will be held online from November 10 to November 14. Practical sessions will continue on campus or in hybrid mode.
Do students still need to visit campus?
Some do. Practical sessions continue in person, and Delhi College of Arts and Commerce has said pre-scheduled class tests will still be held offline on November 7 and 10.
How bad is Delhi’s air right now?
Delhi recorded a city-level air quality index of 304 at 8 am on Tuesday, November 10, which the Central Pollution Control Board classes as very poor. The reading at Delhi University’s North Campus was 368.
Frequently asked questions
Which Delhi University colleges are holding online classes on November 10?
Sri Venkateswara College, Delhi College of Arts and Commerce, Janki Devi Memorial College, Shaheed Bhagat Singh College, Bhagini Nivedita College, Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar College and the Institute of Home Economics have all moved classes online for November 10.
How long will Sri Venkateswara College stay online?
Its notice says regular classes will be held online from November 10 to November 14. Practical sessions will continue on campus or in hybrid mode.
Do students still need to visit campus?
Some do. Practical sessions continue in person, and Delhi College of Arts and Commerce has said pre-scheduled class tests will still be held offline on November 7 and 10.
How bad is Delhi's air right now?
Delhi recorded a city-level air quality index of 304 at 8 am on Tuesday, November 10, which the Central Pollution Control Board classes as very poor. The reading at Delhi University's North Campus was 368.
Sources: ETV Bharat, The Tribune, Business Standard, FELA